Media Policies and Contact Information

Inquiries

It is East Tennessee Children's Hospital's desire to protect the confidentiality of our patients while maintaining the highest standards of communication with the media. The media is considered a valued partner and every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate requests for information.

All media inquiries should be directed to our Marketing department at 865-841-8723 or directly to the Public Relations Manager, Erica Estep, 865-541-8276 or the Marketing Director, Seth Linkous, 865-541-8166. We understand deadlines and are dedicated to meeting them by responding to media inquires quickly and promptly. A Marketing staff member is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist reporters and other members of the news media by answering any questions or assisting with information regarding one of our patients. If you need to reach us after normal business hours, weekends or holidays, call the Children's Hospital switchboard operator at 865-541-8000 and ask them to page the Marketing staff member on-call.

Coming to Children's Hospital

East Tennessee Children's Hospital is located at 2018 W. Clinch Ave., Knoxville, TN 37916. Members of the media are required to notify the Marketing department before coming to our facility. Because of patient confidentiality concerns, media must be accompanied by a Marketing staff member while on Children's Hospital grounds. Media credentials must be clearly displayed at all times for security reasons.

Please remember Children's Hospital is private property. For the protection of our patients and families, the Children's Hospital Security department strictly enforces the visitors' policy and retains the right to determine admittance to the facility.

On-Site Filming

News crews are welcome to set up for live shots or film any time on the sidewalks across the street from Children's Hospital. As a courtesy, we ask you that you notify the Marketing department beforehand. Please do not interfere with patient or ambulance access to any entrance. Once inside the facility, all media must be escorted by a member of the Marketing staff at all times when on assignment.

Patient Confidentiality

We strive to protect the confidentiality of our patients while maintaining the highest standards of communication with the media. The media is considered a valued partner and every reasonable effort will be made to accommodate requests for information.

Due to federal HIPAA (Health Information Portability and Accountability Act) regulations, members of the media seeking patient condition reports must have the first and last name of the patient they are inquiring about. Without this information, members of the Marketing department cannot release patient information or condition reports.

The Marketing department reserves the right to refuse interview or photography requests during police investigations for the safety of a child, when a family requests privacy or if a patient's confidentiality is
being compromised.

Family Video

Family members of patients at East Tennessee Children's Hospital are encouraged to take photos and/or video of their child during the hospital stay for their personal use.

If the family uses the photos and/or video they have personally taken within Children's Hospital for any purpose other than personal use (for example to release to any media outlet or for publication), the Marketing department must be notified by the family prior to release. The Marketing department reserves the right to review the photos and will approve or deny release. Non-approval would result if the photos are in conflict with Children's Hospital policies, particularly the confidentiality of other hospital patients and staff.

Condition Guidelines

Except for the following one-word conditions, no information about a patient may be released without patient/parent permission. Patients, parents or legal guardians have the option to expressly state they do not want any information, including confirmation of a patient's presence in the facility released.

The following terms will be used to describe the patient's condition:

Undetermined - The patient is awaiting physician assessment.

Good - Vital signs such as pulse, temperature
and blood pressure are stable and within normal limits. Patient is
conscious and comfortable. Outlook for recovery is good or excellent.

Fair - Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Patient is conscious but may be uncomfortable. Outlook favorable.

Serious - Vital signs may be unstable and not within the normal limits. Patient is acutely ill. Outlook is questionable.

Critical - Vital signs are unstable and not
within normal limits. Patient may be unconscious. Questionable outlook;
death may be imminent.

Deceased - The death of a patient is presumed to
be a matter of public record and may be reported by the hospital after
the next of kin has been notified or after a reasonable amount of time
has passed.

The terms stable/unstable should not be used as a condition. These terms should be used in conjunction with the conditions listed above.

The Marketing department reserves the right to deny information on any patient if in the patient, family or hospital's best interest.

Patient, guardians and other family members may release information to the media at their discretion.

Use of East Tennessee Children's Hospital Logo and Signature

The logo and signature of East Tennessee Children's Hospital is restricted as follows:

Use of Children's Hospital's logo and signature is granted on a case-by-case basis only to Children's Hospital direct services and other health care providers/organizations or sponsors who have a collaborative relationship with Children's Hospital. Application for specific use of the logo and signature by any party should be initiated by contact with the Children's Hospital Marketing department at 865-541-8723. Children's Hospital's Marketing department will also provide final authorization for all logo use requests.

Logo Rules

Logo may be printed in either black ink or PMS 301 blue ink only.

The logo must always be used with the hospital name (either Children's Hospital or East Tennessee Children's Hospital is acceptable). The symbol cannot be used alone.

Brand Guidelines

A strong brand is one of the most valuable assets an organization owns. To make it truly powerful, it needs to be applied consistently so anyone dealing with East Tennessee Children's Hospital knows who we are and what we stand for. These brand guidelines are to help you represent our brand consistently.

If you have questions regarding the use of our logo, please call Children's Hospital's Marketing department at 865-541-8723.

Note: All other graphics, text and photographs on the Children's Hospital website are copyrighted by Children's Hospital or by the organization represented. For information about use of any of these images or text, please contact the Marketing department at 865-541-8723.